I used to feel the same way about the maps. The thing with the maps is you gotta get used to the way how the game plays and the maps will eventually grow on you. Some of the maps like Raid and Standoff are easily up there with the best of BO1.

I'm never sure of the point of these lists, surely you want to be friends with the people that play the same game as you at the same time. I also pretty much only have friends that are decent players and that have a mic ( I do make a few exceptions to the mic ) All of this can best be done in game.